Once again, I am sharing these from BabyCenter: 5 things you didnt know about Newborsn. I thought it was pretty funny – and true. I am sure some new parents already knew these things… I am going to post one a day for the next 5 days. For those of you who are new, pregnant or thinking about having kids – listen up! For those of you who have already been in the following situations; enjoy a good laugh, leave your funny stories, and perhaps leave behind some advice for the rookies out there!
If you missed the first 4, you can read it by clicking the links below:
#1) Newborns are funny looking #2) Newborns are Explosive #3) Newborns are Explosive #4) Bonding Follows its Own Timetable
5) YOU WILL BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF PARENT THAN YOU EXPECTED
I don’t completely agree with the above title because I always had an idea of how I would parent, how I would bond, what my limitations and consequences would be; and I was right. I think I could describe myself as a laid back, easy going, trial-and-error kind of mom. I am flexible with our schedules, I am not paranoid or over-protective and we are always on the go. In turn, R has turned out to be a happy, energetic and social baby. She loves people, very rarely makes strange and is easy to bring anywhere I want; friends houses, family gatherings, stores, parks or appointments. She is very friendly, and never cries when I leave because she trusts that I will return.
In R’s first year, I didn’t necessarily follow guidelines or rules to raising a child. I did what worked for us in terms of breastfeeding, introducing solids, sleep schedules and play time. She developed just fine, right on track; if not early.
When it comes to cupboard doors, stairs, bonking her head or climbing on things; I let her. When she was doing risky things, she rarely got hurt. But if she did, she always learned and didn’t do it again. I didn’t use child proof locks on any cabinets or doors, and she never bothers with them. I didn’t make a big stink about putting things in her mouth, so if she picks up a penny or something small off the ground; she walks over to me and says “ta-ta” and hands the object to me.
Last week I asked my friend when they would start being more cautious about swearing in front of their daughter who is turning 2 and repeating so many words. She responded saying “We don’t make a big deal about swearing. If we were to be like “Don’t say that!” or “Shhhh” every time someone around her did, she’d be more inclined to repeat them!” – SO TRUE!!!!
BabyCenter Wrote:
One parent noted: “I always thought it was disgusting when parents cleaned their kid’s nose with their own hands, but now I’m one of those parents!”
And another mom says: “When my youngest was an infant, I was terrified of the pacifier.…This thing wasn’t going to get me. Oh no. I was smarter than that. Or so I thought.… After a few weeks, the crying was too much, and I was done being a human pacifier.”
The soother I can relate to! Sometimes you just need to cave on what you thought were your original beliefs.
What kind of parent are you? Do you find that you parent differently than you anticipated? Do you have any advice or recommendations for other parents out there?
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to be honest, i never thought id ever have kids so everything about my parenting abilities and inabilities is surprising to me!
I love the parents note about whiping their kids nose. I was always disgusting about those kinds of things. Or the parents who didn’t wipe their childs nose when it was running. Sometimes you don’t even notice it right away. And sometimes when you do, and you dont have a kleenex, you gotta do what you gotta do!! hehe
I definitely surprised myself when I became a parent. I thought I would be so easy going, and laid back, and motherly just as my friends and family always described me. However; I am a lot more uptight and crazy protective of my kids every move. Even when they were babies! It was hard for me to let others hold my child. It was hard for me to trust people babysitting. Now that their older, I worry about the friends they are making, where they are at all times, if their okay on the monkey bars. It is really verye exhausting!
Christine, I feel that you’re missing out on parenting by being so uptight!
I wouldn’t say Christine is missing out on parenting but she is definietly stressing herself out a lot more than she needs to. I always found that when I babysat when I was younger, and in college, I was very uptight. I worried about everything the kids were doing rather they were playing on the playground, running on the pavement, eating solids. It was scary stuff. I worried about choking and allergies and falling down and getting hurt. I stressed out about being close to them at all times so no one kidnapped them. If I stayed the night, I’d be paranoid that a murderer or kidnapper would come in the house some how, and I’d have to save and protect the kids. It was soooo tiring!!!! I assumed I’d be the exact same way as a parent – but I am completely opposite!!! I am so easy going with my boys. I let them fall down, bonk their heads and experiment with climbing everything and anything they choose to. I don’t know if its because when their someone elses kids that you know it is your only responsibility to keep theses parents number one most important posession safe and alive. When their your own kids I guess its easier to accept that they got hurt. I don’t really know… but what I am getting at is I definitely surprised myself. I am exactly opposite of the kind of parent I thought I’d be!